As mentioned in the introduction to this chapter, the term renal osteodystrophy (ROD) is used generically to refer to a broad spectrum of skeletal disorders that appear as a consequence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and from renal replacement therapy. All the previously described lesions of metabolic origin may appear in ROD.

In practice, they are classified as “high” and “low” turnover forms, although both may coexist as mixed forms. ROD in all its forms may present with variable bone mass: normal, elevated (osteosclerosis) or decreased (osteoporosis). Later we will see that “adynamic bone disease” characteristically presents with decreased bone mass.